EDITORIAL - Going against the trend

As World AIDS Day is observed today, there’s cause for celebration in many places. Incidence of HIV/AIDS is down around the world, except in nine countries – one of which is the Philippines.

Perhaps the nation has been lulled by its inclusion among those at low risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection and full-blown Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. In 2001, only 174 new HIV cases were registered nationwide. There have been jokes about Filipinos seemingly showing immunity to potentially deadly viruses.

The HIV/AIDS situation, however, has changed dramatically. Last year, 6,011 new HIV infections were recorded. This year the number continues to climb. From January to October alone, 6,552 cases have been recorded. Perhaps Filipinos have become more aware of the symptoms and are getting themselves properly diagnosed. Whatever the reason, the jump in the reported cases is cause for alarm. 

Anti-viral cocktails have become more effective against HIV, making the affliction much less of a death sentence than when it was first diagnosed a few decades ago. But the treatment can be costly, with health insurance rarely sufficient to cover the expenses. The illness, even with treatment, can also be debilitating, preventing those afflicted from being fully productive.

The Department of Health has reported that the biggest increase in HIV incidence has been among men having unprotected sex with men, accounting for more than 80 percent of all cases, followed by people who inject drugs. Health experts have pointed out that such spikes in HIV cases have been placed under control in many countries, through interventions as basic as the provision of clean syringes and needles and effective campaigns to promote safe sex. Thailand has tamed what used to be a serious HIV/AIDS problem.

From 2011 to 2015, the observance of World AIDS Day carried the international theme “Getting to Zero.” This is not a quixotic goal. As of June this year, UNAIDS estimated that 15.8 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy – a dramatic increase from the 7.5 million people in 2010.

UNAIDS estimates that new HIV infections worldwide have dropped by 35 percent since peaking in 2000 while AIDS-related deaths have also fallen by 42 percent since the peak in 2004. The Philippines is going against the global trend. Other countries have shown that this doesn’t have to be the case.